With unprecedented room to experiment and access to so many different viewers, Psy and others show us that music videos have found a new calling on the Internet – a postmodern medium that lends itself so easily to cheeky, self-reflexive, ironic content. Enter the funny, satirical music video.

In anticipation of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s new album ‘Mandatory Fun’ scheduled for release on July 15, we take a look back at the history and rise of the iconic style of satirical comedy music videos. Part one of two.